Barrie wrapped an arm around Lorna''s slender waist and pushed open the door.


    The private lounge was empty, save for a bowl of fruit and a few bottles of wine on the table.


    Once the heavy door clicked shut behind them, the noise from the hallway faded into silence.


    Barrie pinned Lorna against the wall, one hand firmly on her waist, the other tilting her chin up as he leaned in for a kiss-


    "Hold on," she said, pressing a manicured finger to his lips. Lorna''s red lips curled into a sultry smile. "Mr. Lockwood, there''s no rush. We have the whole night ahead of us."


    Barrie''s eyes narrowed. "Does Stewart really let you stay out all night?"


    "Oh, him..." Lorna toyed with Barrie''s tie, her fingers light and teasing. "He''s not exactly in top shape. Spends more time asleep in bed than awake these days. I doubt he''d even notice if I went home or not."


    Barrie raised an eyebrow. "He''s really that ill?"


    Lornaughed softly, eyes glinting. "Mr. Lockwood, you''ve heard the rumors, haven''t you? Why won''t you believe me?"


    "It''s hard to swallow," Barrie replied with a cold smile, his sses reflecting a sharp glint. "Stewart controls the economic lifeblood of Northborough. I was looking forward to facing him in the business arena, and now you''re telling me he''s on hisst legs?"


    Lorna sighed, her tone tinged with regret. "Exactly. I only agreed to the engagement so quickly because of his background and power. But now? He probably won''t see the end of this summer. I have to start looking out for myself."


    "As I understand it," Barrie said, his thumb tracing gentle circles on Lorna''s bare skin, "his ex-wife gave him twins, and he''s already brought the boy home to join the Wentworth family."


    "Don''t remind me," Lorna''s face darkened, annoyance creeping into her voice. "So Stewart''s got an heir, but what about me? I''m barely even his fiancée yet-if he dies, I end up with nothing."


    "In that case, perhaps I could help you... take care of the child?" Barrie


    suggested, his tone casual but his meaning unmistakable.


    Lorna''s brows shot up. "You''re joking, right, Mr. Lockwood?"


    Barrie studied her, lips curling in a faint, mocking smile. "What''s the matter? Are you afraid?"


    She shoved him away, ring. "Of course I am! I want money, sure, but not at the cost of a life. I''m not looking to end up with blood on my hands."


    "A woman who won''t y hardball won''t keep her ce for long." Barrie moved to the sofa, poured two sses of whiskey, and handed one to Lorna.


    She epted the drink and settled onto the opposite couch, crossing her long legs and draping herselfnguidly over the armrest, every curve on disy.


    Swirling the amber liquid in her


    ss, she fixed Barrie with a seductive gaze. "I''d love to be a society wife, but if it means getting blood on my hands for the sake of power, no amount of money in the world could buy me peace of mind. Mr. Lockwood, I may love money, but that doesn''t make me a bad woman."


    Herst words were delivered in a yful, coquettish tone, her voice dripping with mischief.


    Barrie arched a brow, amused. Lorna was clever-she knew exactly how to tter


    a man''s ego and y to his vanity.


    But he wasn''t about to let the matter drop.


    With a coldugh, Barrie said, "Cutting the weeds means pulling them out by the


    roots, Ms. Riley. I''m sure you understand that."


    "If that''s how you see it, Mr.


    Lockwood, then I have even less


    reason to worry about the kid," Lorna


    replied, unconcerned. "Stewart''s ex-wife hates him and is fighting for custody. If I give her a little nudge behind the scenes, the kid will be out of the Wentworth family''soon enough. As for the family fortune..."


    She paused, took a sip of whiskey, and continued in a low voice, "Fred Wentworth has been making big movestely. The family''s in chaos, and Fred wants to put


    his illegitimate son in charge. Honestly, with the way things are going, Stewart''s child doesn''t stand a chance at inheriting anything."


    Barrie''s eyes narrowed with interest. "And what''s Stewart''s attitude these days?"


    "What attitude can a dying man have?" Lorna shrugged. "Although, I did hear he''s been negotiating for thatnd in the Northern Suburbs. The government''s nning to develop it into a major import hub, and I think Stewart wants to use the deal tounder some of The Wentworth Group''s assets. He''s not about to let Fred''s bastard son waltz in and take over everything he built."


    "That does sound like Stewart," Barrie said with a faint smile.


    After all, the group''s current sess was all thanks to Stewart. Barrie had already looked into it—before Fred''s ne crash, The Wentworth Group''s finances were already shaky.


    Strictly speaking, if not for Stewart, thepany would never have reached its current heights.


    Now Fred had returned with an illegitimate son, ready to reap the rewards. No wonder Stewart was unwilling to let it go.